HeroClix is a funny game. Sometimes you wait and wait for a certain figure and what you get turns out bizarre beyond words. Remember how long we waited for Vindicator and then when he arrived it was a she – the wrong Vindicator in the eyes of many? A cruel joke to be sure. Well finally in Supernova, that error has been corrected as Vindicator scores and REV and an LE. Sure his history is confusing; he’s blown up a few times, died a few times, lived on some goofy moon with aliens, bonded with his suit, been cloned, so on and so forth. He’s done everything except date his own mother. This 3B review of James MacDonald Hudson will be much less convoluted than all that. Is James Hudson the Mac Daddy? Is Vindicator a hoser? Oh, children, it’s just a click away.

http://www.hcrealms.com/units/sv052.jpg
For the price of a cup of coffee a day, you could help to cure the Guardian of the Super Unbelievably Colossal Kneecap Syndrome that has plagued him his whole life.

LE James MacDonald Hudson’s Gains vs. Experienced Guardian
Old MacDonald had a dial, E-I-E-I-O.
And on that dial he had some Running Shot. E-I-E-I-O.
With some Phasing here,
And Energy Explosion there,
Here 10 attacks,
There Invulnerable,
Everywhere Energy Shield.
Old MacDonald had some gains, E-I-E-I-O.

Here’s the quick 3B translation for those not playing along in our home audience. Hudson opens with two clicks of Running Shot, has a second click of 10 attack and Invulnerable defense, and a third click of three (3) damage. He also adds one click of EE and Phasing, and three big clicks of late-dial ES/D. To round things out, he’s got one more click of two (2) damage and eight (8) attack. Beauty, eh? Oh, and he doesn’t have any Force Blast. Not even one click. Wake the kids and phone the neighbors!

LE James MacDonald Hudson’s Losses vs. E Guardian
Hudson has sacrifice a few things to acquire all of those choice upgrades, but not enough to make him a complete hoser. James never gets Charge, Incapacitate, or a 12 speed. He also sheds one click of Super Strength and two of Toughness.

Neutral Dial Tinkering
Not much going on here, eh. Old MacDonald has his Phasing at the end of his dial while the Guardian has his mid-dial.

Cards that Work
Considering that his first two clicks are virtually identical, pushing Le Big Mac is probably a good idea. To aid in his defense while he’s pushed, consider Shellhead to boost his defense to an imposing 19, eh. Just two more than the number of times he’s seen Jedi. “I am your Mac Daddy, Luke. Give into Alpha Flight, you knob!” While it may be rather obvious, Alpha Flight is also a sound option as it provides a bonus to his attack values against a chosen enemy figure or team, much like the 2000 AD team ability. Finally, when Mac winds up in close combat, and considering his Super Strength it’s a given he’ll be there at some point, Hold the Line lets him swing away at up to two bad guys in the same round.

With regard to Battlefield Conditions, Mac is a pretty straightforward figure, and as such no BFC’s really call out to be used with him. Anything that works with the team as a whole will do all right by him.

If ol_Dut had to Choose
LE James MacDonald Hudson vs. E Guardian? After some of the real horse races we’ve had recently, sometimes it’s nice to have one where the choice is relatively clear. While the Guardian’s Charge with Super Strength is nice, it’s really pretty much all he’s got. Mac, on the other hand, opens with Running Shot. Since everything but his speed remains unchanged on his second click, he provides a painless option for when pushing early on is necessary. The RS/Super Strength combination also lets him yoink an object out from under a figure who thinks he’s Stealthy and then blast him all at the same time. That trick never gets old. The mid-dial EE may not be very enticing, but later he’s got a few tricks up his sleeve. Phasing enables him to leave exit any hostile situation, and as a flier he can bring a team mate along and zip through any obstacles in their path. ES/D affords him a modicum of protection from ranged attacks, and given his aforementioned Phasing, he should always be able to position himself to take advantage of that power. When all of this is rolled up with better attack values and better damage, that makes for one hot and spicy beanburger, and that’s why James MacDonald Hudson is my choice. He’s not flashy, fancy or complicated. He’s simple and straightforward and sometimes that’s enough. Take off, Guardian, you hoser!

Quick and Dirty Price Tag
James MacDonald Hudson is a steal for just $7-10 dollars. If you don’t win one, go get one!

That’s all for this week. Next week we’ll take a look at Carter Hall. Thanks for reading!

lunar

05/24/2007, 22:33

I hate his knee it is so ugly... thank you for making fun of it.

SpaceGhost

05/24/2007, 22:36

To the Great White North, it's the beauty way to go...

Good luck to one of my players that is specifically making an Alpha Flight team to win the James MacDonald LE tomorrow!

Thanks for the review!

RavenProject

05/24/2007, 22:37

I hate his knee it is so ugly... thank you for making fun of it.

I'm not sure that's his knee...

-J

ol_Dut

05/24/2007, 22:41

I'm not sure that's his knee...

-J

Maybe he's just really, really, really happy to see you.

That, or he's shoplifting PVC pipe from Home Depot.

1clickbraindmg

05/24/2007, 22:44

I'm not sure that's his knee...-J

I picked up the nom-de-plume, "Captain Third-Leg" from somewhere else ... he's just the latest in the tradition of well-endowed Canadians, from William Shatner to Anne Murray. (You heard me.)

ShellShock

05/24/2007, 23:03

Gotta love the LE, probably the best of the bunch.

No man will try to compete with that knee, i know im intimidated

ElevenBee

05/24/2007, 23:34

Gotta love the LE, probably the best of the bunch.

No man will try to compete with that knee, i know im intimidated

eh...

He's obviously just trying to compensate for his incredibly inadequate car

For the price of a cup of coffee a day, you could help to cure the Guardian of the Super Unbelievably Colossal Kneecap Syndrome that has plagued him his whole life.[/CENTER]

You do realize that the acronym for Super Unbelievably Colossal Kneecap Syndrome is SUCKS, right?

Krym

05/25/2007, 09:04

You do realize that the acronym for Super Unbelievably Colossal Kneecap Syndrome is SUCKS, right?

ROFL! :laugh:

da-Craig-O

05/25/2007, 11:08

I have loved this LE since I got one at WWLA. If only I had the foresight to sell him on Ebay when I got home. Only one went up at that time and because there was a rumor that he wasn't going to be a prize anywhere else it sold for $80.

Oh well. At least I still got one. :)

valor1

05/25/2007, 11:13

All I have to say is that JMcH has some oversized hands and oversized feet to go along with his errrr long knee peg. I wonder if he has any problems with the ladies?

ol_Dut

05/25/2007, 13:10

You do realize that the acronym for Super Unbelievably Colossal Kneecap Syndrome is SUCKS, right?

I was curious if anyone would notice that:laugh: . Rep for you!

It kind of sums up how I feel about that nast flight peg of his. Why couldn't it have at least been clear?

Doc Nebula

05/25/2007, 13:33

There is one thing you have to say about Alpha Flight as personified in HeroClix form -- they suck. They just suck and suck and suck and suck and SUCK. You think they've stopped sucking for a moment, just a blessed moment's peace from all that sucking, but nooooooooooo, it was just your brain, stunned and bruised from all that relentless and insane sucking, momentarily lapsing into the sweet sweet release of unconsciousness before you once more rouse to, again, the endless, perpetual sucking of every clix figure that has ever been a member of Alpha Flight.

It's like what WK has done to the Blob, the Toad, Mystique, Magneto, and the Kingpin, amplified by 83, sharpened to a fine point, and rammed into your prefrontal lobes at warp 7. It's horrible. It's terrible. It's appalling. It's a grievous egregious obnoxious insult to every John Byrne fan.

Hats off to Wiz Kids! Rarely do they get any characters so correct, but this time, they've outdone themselves. The plastic Alpha Flight is every bit as effective and powerful as their comic book avatars. I salute them, and I say to them, take off, you hosers!

tidge

05/25/2007, 13:40

I desperately want this LE for my Alpha Flight teams!

For me, it's all about the second click of Leadership for Inspiring Command.

Here's a suggestion for Doc Nebula (and all other doubters): Play an Inspired (new) Vindicator along with a Brilliant Tactican Shaman to support Aurora and Northstar (and Puck). It's a pretty formidable theme team.

Kite-Man

05/25/2007, 14:00

There is one thing you have to say about Alpha Flight as personified in HeroClix form -- they suck. They just suck and suck and suck and suck and SUCK.

I made it to the final round of a tourney once with them.

I didn't even use Thunderbolts.

Which was awesome when one opponent played 'Disbanded' against me.

Run them with Power Dampening Field and they're extra great.

U Vindicator, V Puck, Veteran Marrina LE Jean-Marie-- man-- I think it's a really good team!
I can never get Shaman to work too well for me, but I have won a LOT of games with Alpha Flight!

Kite-Man

05/25/2007, 14:03

I desperately want this LE for my Alpha Flight teams!

For me, it's all about the second click of Leadership for Inspiring Command.

I think you're thinking of the old Unique, no?
She has two clicks of Leadership.
Great figure with Armour Piercing...

tidge

05/25/2007, 14:39

I think you're thinking of the old Unique, no?
She has two clicks of Leadership.
Great figure with Armour Piercing...

I actually prefer the new Vindicator(s) (I cannot keep all the names straight) because with them I don't need Armor Piercing...I have found that in order to get the most out of Inspiring Command, I do need it on the first two clicks...being able to push the new LE (to make a RS) and still keep Leadership is actually a big deal for my play style.

edit: I'm also preferring the new figure's power mix (I had to check the gallery to remind myself!)

azathoth

05/25/2007, 14:40

I was curious if anyone would notice that:laugh: . Rep for you!

It kind of sums up how I feel about that nast flight peg of his. Why couldn't it have at least been clear?

*You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to ol_Dut again.*

I enjoy an artfully placed acronym and agree about that flight peg!

darklogos

05/25/2007, 14:47

I think after this next round of retirement this LE's value will go up because he is cheap, has decent damage, decent range, and up front move and attack powers. Take all that into account then you have a very solid piece. Is he the new Blackfire or Havok? No. But he has decent dial length and some decent stats.

FoxInStocks

05/25/2007, 15:28

I have only one thing to say about that picture:

You know you're a f'd up bunch of superfreaks when all of the other costumed crazies avoid you and give you dirty looks when you walk by.

Prof. Aragorn

05/25/2007, 15:47

I picked up the nom-de-plume, "Captain Third-Leg" from somewhere else ... he's just the latest in the tradition of well-endowed Canadians, from William Shatner to Anne Murray. (You heard me.)

Anne Murray is Canadien?

DOOMBOTSKI

05/26/2007, 03:18

Anne Murray is Canadien?

Hey IB Candidate, Canadian not Canadien, EH!

Yes Anne Murray is Canadian, so is Randy Bachman, The Guess Who, Neil Young, The Kids in the Hall, Second City TV(SCTV), Hell most of the people that live in Canada are Canadians, EH!

tidge

05/26/2007, 09:09

I think you're thinking of the old Unique, no?
She has two clicks of Leadership.
Great figure with Armour Piercing...

Kite-Man brings my dreams crashing down! This LE has no leadership!

Obsidian3d

05/26/2007, 14:50

Alpha Flight has always been my favorite team (they just slightly edge out the GL corps) in comics, and I was really happy to see the flight finally get Guardian. Having only recently started playing I highly doubt I'll be winning an LE, but picking one up may definitely be in the cards. Nice review!

Kite-Man

05/27/2007, 17:59

I chopped off the flight peg from a Danielle Moonstar figure and switched it up.
It actually looks pretty great in person (alas, me digital camera be busto)-- I also got him to tilt up a bit so he's not so "looking for my lost contact-y" in his pose.

Great costume. If only he ever had a good story written about him.
I kept buying that comic as a child hoping to see this guy doing something cool, but mostly he just had meetings and moved into new apartments and stuff.
--You know there's a problem when I liked the fish girl on the team way more than the team leader with the cool costume.

I really need to go buy a bunch of Dani Moonstar figs for that little clear pipe...

I want to do Sunfire next..

tyroclix

05/30/2007, 19:38

The one thing that kills me about Guardian / Vindicator / Mac is the lack of Leadership.

ONLY the Rookie gets it which is odd since he was solo in the days of Weapon Alpha. After that he was leading the team and while his wife was regarded as a 'better leader' there are plenty of figures who have led less and got the power.

Inspiring Command is so powerful on an Alpha Flight team it really stinks what Seth did to them.

Maybe with the new system we'll get a remake eventually...

Kite-Man

05/31/2007, 21:23

I actually find the Rookie more playable than I initially suspected.

And I think only the Rookie should get leadership, comic-accuracy-wise.